[Marlowe]

I've led a sheltered and poor life

I'm retired on a limited and fixed income. I only have the Aeolus because that's what I spent my $1200 stimulus check on last spring. And I only waited about seven weeks

 

[senorx12562]

I'm retired on a limited and fixed income. I only have the Aeolus because that's what I spent my $1200 stimulus check on last spring. And I only waited about seven weeks

Ditto, except I spent mine on a Node2i and a pair of speakers, as I already had 3 pr of 'phones the total cost of which was about $1000. Wasn't intending to criticize your choices, merely to explain why it wasn't mine. Never have felt I could afford to put all my eggs in one $1000 headphone-shaped basket. Hope you enjoy them, as they are undoubtedly beautiful to look at. I have way too little time left to wait seven weeks for anything. Cheers, mate.

 

[robetzel]

My first pair of Elex arrived with the right driver DOA. Drop did a quick replacement (sending the replacement before they received the first pair back) and I've been enjoying them since. They have good extension but the bass sometimes feels a little...................thin? I'm wondering how the LCD-X might compare for slam/dynamics.

 

[LittleJoe919]

What do you think a half working (one driver not working) is worth? There are a few on eBay. It would be nice to have a spare set of pads and driver. Could be fun to tear it down to see how it's put together also.
I was thinking $250 when there asking $328.

 

[wizzman121]

My first pair of Elex arrived with the right driver DOA. Drop did a quick replacement (sending the replacement before they received the first pair back) and I've been enjoying them since. They have good extension but the bass sometimes feels a little...................thin? I'm wondering how the LCD-X might compare for slam/dynamics.

I think you will find most assessments of Elex find the bass anything but thin. I find them very punchy and quite tight for a dynamic driver, especially at this price point. @Resolve from The HEADPHONE Show even stated it was "one of the punchiest, most impactful headphones I've ever heard". While the Utopias are my favorite headphone I still enjoy swapping back to the Elex every now and then. They remain my favorite headphone under $1000.

Audezes are known for their thick syrupy bass which has its own appeal. With that said I find the bass of the Elex a bit tighter and punchier than my LCD3 even if it has slightly less quantity overall.

I am curious what your DAC and amp equipment are that are making your Elex sound thin.

 

[robetzel]

Thanks for the response. Perhaps my terminology-fi is weak. I think your description matches my experience. In comparison to my DT-177X and MDR-Z7M2 the Elex is certainly tighter and crisper, but also has less "full" bass.

 

[adeadcrab]

As the above poster has mentioned, the Elex has punchy and tight bass. It is not a bass monster like the DT177x may be, rather it is more of a reference amount of bass.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

Hi all, I was hoping someone might be able to help me make a decision on the Elex. Or even provide some advice on what else to look at.

Over the last year I've owned (and sold on) a really large variety of headphones, the entire Sennheiser HD6 range, the Beyer T1.2, T5p.2, DT 1990, Amiron, DT 880, Audioquest Nighthawk, AKG K712, Fidelio X2HR, Hifiman Sundara... the list goes on and on.

I decided to shrink the collection down to just several quality pairs. I already own the Audioquest Nighthawk (OG and Carbon), which I love. Great natural reverb effect, nice bass, they're a keeper. I also recently bought the Drop Dan Clark Aeon Open X, they're also a keeper for me. They replace my Amiron as a great energetic all-rounder. Now this is where I'm stuck. The Aeon actually feels quite closed, more so than the Nighthawk, it's also very energetic. The Nighthawk are semi-open. So now I want something that is complimentary to the other two. Something very open sounding, with decent soundstage and not too much energy. I guess something fairly neutral (but not HD600 neutral, I wasn't a fan).

Do you think the Elex might fit in to this, or would I be better off with the Ananda? Those are my top two picks at the moment. I was tempted by the Clear, but I keep reading that they're very punchy. The Aeon are punchy, I want something less so. The big turn off for me in regards to Focal are the cost of replacement pads.

 

[Shane D]

I hear you on going through several sets in the past year or two. I Love my Elex's. I find them very "W-shaped". A good amount of highs, very nice mids and more bass than I expected. In short, a great full sound.
It has made me curious to try the Clears eventually, but these work just fine for now.

I just recently sold my Sundara's (kind of boring) and Fostex TH610's (nothing special to me, even with driver mod and Periapt balanced cable). Next out might be the Drop Edition XX's. They are on trial for next few weeks.

My top three headphones are:
Grado GH2's (Amazing mids for guitars and vocals)
CFA Cascades (bass beyond belief and very good mids)
Focal Elex's (probably the best all rounder).

My music is new rock, classic rock, blues and horn jazz.

In the last two years I have burned though Lots of amps and headphones, but I have finally started to find gear that I am VERY happy and content with.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

I hear you on going through several sets in the past year or two. I Love my Elex's. I find them very "W-shaped". A good amount of highs, very nice mids and more bass than I expected. In short, a great full sound.
It has made me curious to try the Clears eventually, but these work just fine for now.

I just recently sold my Sundara's (kind of boring) and Fostex TH610's (nothing special to me, even with driver mod and Periapt balanced cable). Next out might be the Drop Edition XX's. They are on trial for next few weeks.

My top three headphones are:
Grado GH2's (Amazing mids for guitars and vocals)
CFA Cascades (bass beyond belief and very good mids)
Focal Elex's (probably the best all rounder).

My music is new rock, classic rock, blues and horn jazz.

In the last two years I have burned though Lots of amps and headphones, but I have finally started to find gear that I am VERY happy and content with.

I do love a good all-rounder. I might just have to try these.

 

[Lolito]

what tube amp is that mate, looks beautiful

 

[G0rt]

Are these still considered the gateway drug for Focal's reimagined Sennheisers?

I've only lived with #3960 for a couple of weeks, but they're definitely a welcome addition to the rotation.

Such a seductively tight and articulate bottom, better if slightly less than my Beyers, and with more clear and forward mids than the Senns.

I find them most similar to HD660s, rather than HD600/650, mostly I think on the basis of dynamics, at which both HD660s and Elex excel.

They were fatiguing just out of the box, but with burn in and pimping, they've become smooth enough to go for hours.

(I put on the fenestrated Dekonis, and a slinky GraveDigger replaced the stiff stock cables.)

Very nice.

 

[joshuachew]

Are these still considered the gateway drug for Focal's reimagined Sennheisers?

I've only lived with #3960 for a couple of weeks, but they're definitely a welcome addition to the rotation.

Such a seductively tight and articulate bottom, better if slightly less than my Beyers, and with more clear and forward mids than the Senns.

I find them most similar to HD660s, rather than HD600/650, mostly I think on the basis of dynamics, at which both HD660s and Elex excel.

They were fatiguing just out of the box, but with burn in and pimping, they've become smooth enough to go for hours.

(I put on the fenestrated Dekonis, and a slinky GraveDigger replaced the stiff stock cables.)

Very nice.

Fenestrated sheepskin pads?

I used those Dekonis on my Elex too and love it so much.

 

[G0rt]

Fenestrated sheepskin pads?

I used those Dekonis on my Elex too and love it so much.

Yup, those. Comfy, classy and just a slight, positive change to the overall presentation.

I like the Hybrids on my higher end Senns, but these suit the Elex perfectly.

 

[joshuachew]

To me with those pads they give you 90% of the Utopia sound at 1/4 the proce.

Utopia and Elex owner BTW.